Problem with black color

[Craig]

I recently noticed a color problem with my 4-month old Canon i9900 printer.
When I printed an image of our black cat on i9900 printer, the black color
(fur) came out to be in dark blue color instead of black color. When I
printed the same image on Canon ip4000, the color came out correctly, black.
So it is clear that i9900 printer has a problem with black color. I
performed print head alignment and deep cleaning/nozzle checking repeatedly,
but the color problem on the print remained the same. When I checked the
print head, it is clean. I do not see any overflowing of cyan/photocyan
ink. Because of this color problem, the overall print looks slightly
bluish tinted. Could someone advise me how to correct the black color
problem? Craig

 

[Tony]

I recently noticed a color problem with my 4-month old Canon i9900 printer.
When I printed an image of our black cat on i9900 printer, the black color
(fur) came out to be in dark blue color instead of black color. When I
printed the same image on Canon ip4000, the color came out correctly, black.
So it is clear that i9900 printer has a problem with black color. I
performed print head alignment and deep cleaning/nozzle checking repeatedly,
but the color problem on the print remained the same. When I checked the
print head, it is clean. I do not see any overflowing of cyan/photocyan
ink. Because of this color problem, the overall print looks slightly
bluish tinted. Could someone advise me how to correct the black color
problem? Craig

Are you using the same paper on both printers and are you using OEM inks with
Canon Photo paper?
The matching between inks and photo paper is critical. If you are not using
matching inks and paper I suggest you try that.
Otherwsie you may have to try different colour profiles, there are some folks
that post here who have lots of experience with profiling, they may see your
post and respond.
Tony

 

[Arthur Entlich]

I'm assuming this situation is not new. If it is new ignore the
information below, it is more likely something has happened to your
yellow print head, yellow ink, etc.

However, assuming your print heads are working and the ink is there and
flowing, the problem is probably color management.

Each printer model, and even each individual printer requires tweaking
of the color management to get proper color control.

Digital Cameras, scanners, computers, OS, monitors, printer software and
drivers all can introduce errors into the printing process in terms of
color rendition. You may have lucked out with your ip4000 and yet the
ip9000 management may not fit. Since the color black is so tricky (it
is rarely pure black, but instead is usually made up of a component of
the colors to make a very dark brown, or blue or green or whatever), the
slightest shift of one ink color can impart shading or hue that doesn't
belong. In color printing, actual black ink is rarely used exclusively
to make a black part of an image. To correct the problem, the dark areas
probably need more yellow added. Since the color you are getting with
one printer is fairly accurate while more off with the other, you need a
profile file that will correct the one that is off through color look up
tables. You can either make a correction in the Canon driver for that
printer or have a profile made by buying a color monitoring program and
hardware monitor reader.

Art

 

[Craig]

In order to compare the two prints, I used the same setting for printing,
the same inks and cartridges, and the same paper.
Everything is the identical except for the location of the printers: i990 in
my home and i500 in my office. Thanks.

Craig

 

[Craig]

Arthur,
Thanks for your comment. Upon reading your post, I changed the yellow cart
with a brand new OEM yellow cart.
When printed, the print looked the same before and after the new cart.
On the other hand, when I printed texts with i9900, texts were all printed
in dark black. The color problem occurs only when pictures. were printed.
It looks that I should tweak the color management.
Iam not sure whether I can fix the problem or not.
Many thanks for the comment.

Craig

 

[Craig]

On the other hand, when I printed texts with i9900, texts were all
This may not be correct because dark blue and black colors are not
distinguishable to naked eyes. I now feel that black texts seen are
probably in dark blue.

About 30 min ago, I downloaded and updated the latest driver for i9900.
That did not correct the blue color.

Regards,

Craig

 

[Arthur Entlich]

It is somewhat important to figure out if the text color is dark blue or
black.

Programs that print text usually tell the printer driver that the text
is pure black, and the printer then delivers the printing in pure black
ink. In fact some Canon (and other) printers use a special black
pigment ink cartridge just for text purposes.

I don't know exactly how the ink cartridges are set up on the IP9000.
The most typical set up with Canon printers is seven ink cartridges.

CcMmYK all as dye colorant inks, and one pigment black cartridge, used
exclusively for text or monochrome (black and white) output.

However, I believe some lack this pigment black cartridge, and of
course, some do not have the light dye load inks (the c and m).

The first thing I would attempt to do is determine if the IP9000 uses a
special text black ink cartridge or not. Secondly, determine if the
driver allows for a "black only" mode, and if so try printing something
with that versus the regular method, and try to figure out if the two
black results look different. (that could still be the difference
between the pigment black and the dye black inks, of course).

Does the printer allow you to make a nozzle test that prints a pattern
from each color or a small area of each ink color? If so, you can use
that as a guide in determining which ink is being used for black text,
black images, etc.

Next either "borrow" a step wedge from a website on line of make one up
that is a grouping of neutral grey/black steps and print it and
determine if the results are neutral grey and black or if these show one
of more hue shifts. If the shift is pretty equal throughout the density
ranges, you may need to place an adjustment into the driver (usually,
these adjustments are in an advanced area, but I don't work with Canon
drivers, so I can't say for sure).

Hope this is of some help.

Art

 

[Craig]

the i9900 printer is less than 5 months old. I am wondering whether Canon
would fix this problem under the one-year warranty.

Cobras.

 

[Tony]

the i9900 printer is less than 5 months old. I am wondering whether Canon
would fix this problem under the one-year warranty.

Cobras.

Craig
Extremely likely that they will, give them or your supplier a call. Canon's
after sales and warranty service is as good as any in the industry and better
than most.
Tony

 

[Arthur Entlich]

It really depends if it is a Canon printer problem or not... there are,
as I stated, many potential causes, some outside of Canon's printers or
services.

Art